which states are sanctuary states
A handful of U.S. states plus Washington, D.C. are widely recognized as “sanctuary states,” meaning they limit how much local or state agencies help enforce federal civil immigration law. The exact list can vary slightly by source and by how “sanctuary” is defined, but the core group is fairly consistent.
What “sanctuary state” means
- A sanctuary policy usually means state or local police limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities in areas like honoring ICE detainer requests, sharing certain information, or using local resources for civil immigration enforcement.
- These policies do not stop federal immigration agents from operating; they mainly set rules for how much state and local agencies will voluntarily assist.
Commonly listed sanctuary states
Most recent public lists and policy trackers point to the following as sanctuary states or near-equivalents, often by statute or statewide policy:
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Illinois
- Minnesota
- New York
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Washington
- District of Columbia (not a state, but commonly grouped with them)
Some advocacy and research groups describe this as “about 11 states plus D.C.” because they count only those with clear, statewide laws or executive actions limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
Why lists differ
- Different organizations and agencies use different criteria: some focus on formal state statutes, others include broad attorney-general guidance or long‑standing enforcement practices.
- The federal government has recently published and then revised lists of “sanctuary jurisdictions,” and those lists sometimes mix states, counties, and cities and have changed after accuracy challenges.
- Cities and counties inside non‑sanctuary states can still have local sanctuary policies, which is why maps often show hundreds of “sanctuary jurisdictions” nationwide beyond this core set of states.
Mini FAQ
Do sanctuary states block deportations entirely?
No. Federal immigration authorities can still arrest and deport people inside
these states; the policies mostly restrict how much local or state agencies
assist.
Can the list change?
Yes. State legislatures, governors, and attorneys general can expand, narrow,
or repeal sanctuary‑style policies, and federal agencies sometimes update
their own designations as politics and enforcement priorities shift.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.